The C.A.M. Report
Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Fair, Balanced, and to the Point
  • About this web log

    This blog ran from 2006 to 2016 and was intended as an objective and dispassionate source of information on the latest CAM research. Since my background is in pharmacy and allopathic medicine, I view all CAM as advancing through the development pipeline to eventually become integrated into mainstream medical practice. Some will succeed while others fail. But all are treated fairly here.

  • About the author

    John Russo, Jr., PharmD, is president of The MedCom Resource, Inc. Previously, he was senior vice president of medical communications at www.Vicus.com, a complementary and alternative medicine website.

  • Common sense considerations

    The material on this weblog is for informational purposes. It is not medical advice or counsel. Be smart, consult your health professional before using CAM.

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  • Recent Comments

    Benefits of Pilates in ankylosing spondylitis

    Researchers at the University of Uludag, in Bursa, Turkey, investigated the effects of Pilates on pain, functional status, and quality of life in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

    First, the details.

    • 55 adults with ankylosing spondylitis being treated in a rheumatology clinic were randomly assigned to a treatment group.
      • Pilates exercise program of 1 hour by a certified trainer 3 times a week for 12 weeks
      • Control group: Participants continued previous standard treatment.
    • Participants were evaluated before the study and at weeks 12 and 24.
    • The evaluator was not aware of the treatment given — single-blind.

    And, the results.

    • In the Pilates group, the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI) showed significant improvement at week 12 and week 24.
      • There was no change in the control group.
    • Comparison of the groups showed significantly superior results with Pilates at week 24.

    The bottom line?

    The authors concluded that Pilates exercises are “an effective and safe method to improve physical capacity in ankylosing spondylitis patients.”

    This is the first clinical study designed to investigate the role of Pilates method in ankylosing spondylitis treatment.

    5/9/11 22:38 JR

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